The NRA had come in for no shortage of criticism for its lack of a response to Friday’s shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. They’ve just released the following:

NRA STATEMENT

The National Rifle Association of America is made up of four million moms and dads, sons and daughters ā€“ and we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders in Newtown . . .

Out of respect for the families, and as a matter of common decency, we have given time for mourning, prayer and a full investigation of the facts before commenting.

The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.

The NRA is planning to hold a major news conference in the Washington, DC area on Friday, December 21.

Details will be released to the media at the appropriate time.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

76 COMMENTS

  1. “The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.”

    Very interesting wording. And just a bit suspenseful.

    • What they mean by that is the same things you guys have been doing around here for the last three days, doubling down on your same old wrong-headed ideas.

      The real reason for the NRA silence:

      1. shame and embarrassment
      2. a calculated delay to lend credence to the nonsensical accusation that gun control folks were dancing in the blood.

      • I think they have been waiting while checking to see who they can count on in Congress to back their position and which ones were just pandering. This approach seems to be working.

      • The only people who should be ashamed and embarrassed are you and your ilk. For creating gun free zones, and dancing on dead children’s bodies (it started LONG before the first one was even cold) over the Newtown shooting to promote additional gun control. The NRA was silent out of respect for the dead, which is far more than can be said for the anti crowd, yourself included.

      • Mike I’ve often read your posts if for no other than a glimpse into the mind of what i was willing to consider as a dedicated believer; wrong-headed but well meant… but i see now you reveal your true nature: projecting “dancing in the blood”.

        Just go away.

    • $10 says that their plan is to support magazine capacity restrictions and a scary looking weapons ban. The NRA is no friend to those who prefer guns that aren’t shotguns or bolt action rifles.

  2. So, the NRA is going to support or otherwise promote programs to arm school administrators? Or make sure those who want to carry on school grounds can, but not force any one to carry? Very Logical.

  3. Classy. As. Fuck. Leave the ravaging brady campaign to look for a reason to put their shitty legislation through, this makes them look bad.

    • The NRA has always struck me as a lobbying agency for two industries; Weapons, & Hunting/Sporting. Any defense of the actual 2ndA is coincidental and convenient in service to those two. It is a shield – and the second a few axes get caught in that shield, they will throw it down.

      For that and a few other minor reasons I have never supported the NRA. i prefer GOA, and SAF. Their fight serves the real purpose and protects all of the other issues by default.

  6. Am I the only one that is a little afraid that the NRA is about to throw us under the bus again? ala AWB/Import ban?

    • They throw us under the bus without things like this going on, so it wouldn’t be a surprise for them to do so now to save face with the public. They almost tanked Georgia’s SB308 because it didn’t have a training requirement for a GWCL (Georgia Weapons Carry License). Then, after GeorgiaCarry.Org (the group responsible for the legislation) fought them tooth and nail to get the legislation passed, the NRA took credit for its passing.

      In my opinion, saying the NRA is a fair-weather organization would be quite the understatement. I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but I don’t see anything they would say following that type of press release as being anything positive for us.

      • They will support a 10 round mag cap at the least….take it to the bank.

        I feel terrible for the families, but, this thing is turning into 9/11 junior.

        • “Us” would be, in this case, gun owners, possibly those who are also NRA members.

          Hunley is referring to the NRA’s occasional practice of doing things that are politically expedient but that many gun owners (who may also be NRA members) disagree with. For instance, if the anti’s want reduced mag capacity and … universal 3 day waiting period, the NRA might sign off on the mag capacity part in return for the anti’s backing off the waiting period, and they might do that despite the vast majority of their membership wanting them to hold a hard line on both issues.

  7. We are about to see if the NRA is going to make a stance based on principal or one based on expediency, to ensure that the progressive tidal wave of criticism is not too great to cripple their operation. I personally think it will be the latter.

  10. “The National Rifle Association of America is made up of four million moms and dads, sons and daughters”

    And run by a small claque of fifth-columnists.

  11. See what they say on Friday. The nation’s oldest civil rights organization can’t “throw us under the bus” or they’re unemployed.

  12. I would like to think this lead up will be to point out how arming teachers, and faculty is the only thing that will stop this. Cite Israel, Jewish schools int he states and Texas schools. It isn’t hard to site even conservative estimates on DGU’s which pretty much blow the whole anti thing out of the water, heck all anyone has to do is search Bruce’s posts for about an hour to have enough numbers and facts to dismantle all the anti rhetoric.

    I think the NRA also supported some means of allowing mental health people to flag potential patients for gun purchases as well. I am not 100% positive on this. This is a doctor patient thing, not a government agent screening you.

    I do not believe there will be promotion of an AWB, or even a neutered capacity magazine push from the NRA. We all know there are enough facts out there that basically dump this whole AWB thing. The fact that long guns in general are used in 7% of gun crimes means all this hoopla will do very little. It feels good, until the next guy goes in with three pistols and does the same thing. Then what?

    We still don’t have the full story on this tragedy, although more and more is coming out each day. As long as there are people waving bloody t-shirts there will be no rational discussion. This issue goes beyond the gun control issue, it is a general safety issue. Comprehensive discussions need to take placed across the board. I am not one to entertain any new gun laws, but really people need to stop focusing with a narrow point of view. My new laws would be get rid of gun free zones, make available training and CCW for all law abiding citizens. The mental health issue is something that should be addressed, but since I don’t have a PHD in psychology, it needs to come from an honest and open discussion. I am worried about folks who take meds on a regular basis. If they go off them and or have side effects from the,. Again this is something we need to talk about.

  14. I do not belong to the NRA. I have never made a contribution to the NRA. I may consider it, depending on Friday’s statement.

    If the NRA voices anything other than support for the 2A, however, then I will be making a contribution to the SAF on Friday evening.

    As I wrote yesterday both here and to my Senators and Congressman, “I do not at this time support any further gun control legislation or any efforts to infringe upon the Second Amendment. I will be active and vote accordingly.”

    • This is pretty much me as well. I was on the fence after realizing half of the gun control out there was counter-intuitive. So I didn’t opt for an NRA membership at the time I took my CHL.

      If the NRA tries to take a step in the right direction (ie. arming teachers, getting rid of gun free zones, etc.) I’ll consider giving them my membership. If they go the other way or remain neutral, then I guess they perceive the 2nd Amendment differently than I do.

      Time to stand up for what you supposedly stand for.

  16. I, Aharon, will make a statement here at TTAG on Friday about the NRA. Please be patient and stay tuned.

    • The NRA has a not-super-publicized deal where existing Life members can sponsor others to become Life Members for $300 instead of the standard $1000. I’ve been on the fence about it for several months, but I’m pretty certain at this point that their actions on Friday will determine whether I become a Lifetime member, or a “not in this lifetime” non-member.

      The unfortunate part about the latter option is that both of the large private outdoor ranges near me require NRA membership to join the range, so if I find myself unwilling to join the NRA, that will also result in my inability to join either of the only two options to shoot 1-2-300 yards within an hour of me.

      • Seems like you’re possibly caught in one of those rock and a hard place situations. I hope it works out for you. Are there any places you can drive to out somewhere on public land that you can go shooting?

        A local range to me also requires NRA membership. I’m not an NRA member though I am of other pro gun groups.

        • There may be some public land, I haven’t really looked into it, but at best it’d likely be well over an hour away.

  17. Everyone please email the NRA and demand that they do not make any compromises.
    This is what I wrote them. Feel free to copy an past same to them.

    re:

    “The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.”

    I speak on behalf of everyone at Pocono Shooting Range.

    Please do not accept any compromise on gun rights. We want to keep our AR-15 our AK’s and all our high capacity magazines.

    When crazy people start driving trucks through school buildings… will the cowards want to ban all trucks too!!!

    Pocono Shooting Range

  18. A lot of NRA critics and cynics here.

    The NRA is the big dog on the block. They do a vast amount of good in everything from training and education to political work. Better still, the other side goes code brown and yellow when they hear mention of the NRA (despite their lame public pronouncements about the NRA’s supposed impotence).

    Frankly, at times it’s frustrating carrying the activism load for a bunch of keyboard commando slackers who nitpick to find reasons not to be part of the solution while they snipe at those of us who are.

    Get with the program. Join and participate in this fight, and don’t just sit on your ass commenting on a goddamn forum or blog. That doesn’t do jack for our cause, particularly if you just want to complain.

    Get your checkbook out and write a check with a couple of zeros on it, and I don’t mean the ‘cents’ to a gun rights organization you feel best represents your interests, in addition to being a member of the National Rifle Association. Write letters to politicians, or write articles or columns and get them out in front of the public to educate and influence them on the benefits of firearm ownership.

    Introduce non-shooters to the fun and excitement of shooting.

    Participate in political rallies supporting our civil rights.

    Spread the word to the less informed… shine the light of truth on the anti-gun lies out there.

    Sitting around drafting the top ten reasons you’re too good to belong to the NRA does nothing to guarantee you or I will be able to lawfully own guns six months or six years from now.

    C’mon out and join the winning team.

    No, we’re not perfect, but then again, neither are you.

    John

    ETA: No, I don’t work for the NRA…

    • I totally agree, John. My concern is that the NRA’s clout cuts both ways. If the NRA decides that it’s expedient to put something like magazines with >10 rounds on the table, that will open the door for the politicians to be OK with voting to ban them, and the NRA’s clout means those politicians won’t listen to me (assuming they do now). So what happens if the NRA puts something on the table I don’t agree with? It happened in ’94; it could happen again.

    • “They do a vast amount of good…” Agreed. Which raises the age old question as to whether one transgression undoes a virtuous life. Guess it depends on the transgression.

      We can lament the fact that we live in an age of “what have you done for me lately” another time.

      Right now it appears we have a fight to maintain one of the rights endowed to us by our Creator and memorialized by our forefathers. We didn’t choose this fight but anything less than our best efforts will have lasting repurcussions. This is especially true for the so-called standard bearer of the 2A, the NRA.

    • Amen. I am a life member as of november 2008. That being said if they turn and run i wont be giving anymore ontop of the life membership.

    • +1. I’m an NRA member to join a good range. I dont agree with everything they do but appreciate the extensive education and nationwide reach and influence over waffling lawmakers. If you really care write as a member. Better yet give to multiple groups. money talks and you know what walks. But dont form circular firing squads when 2A freedom is at stake. Its EXACTLY what the Alinskyite trolls dployed here and elsewhere will bait you to do and laugh at your naivete.

  19. “The NRA is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again.”

    Such as support an assault weapons ban like they did in the nineties?
    I prefer The Gun Owners of America organization. Far less compromise and bending to the winds of political pressure.

  20. The NRA is planning to hold a major news conference in the Washington, DC area on Friday, December 21.

    So that’s what it was all about…

  22. Edge of seat with that statement…of course anything the NRA counters with will be spat at by our opposition.

  23. I was actually preparing to break down and get an NRA membership, despite disagreeing with their FUD tactics so often. Now I’ll wait and see what they say Friday.

  24. All I can say is get behind an organization and get ready. We are in for a fight. Let’s don’t forget the last 18 years of good work by the NRA. Some of the things they do to promote shooting on a local level are phenomenal. Grants. Shooting expos. Training siminars. Range improvement. Yeah, I’m sick of all the mailers and renewal notices too, but all in they are carrying most of the load.

    BTW
    Anybody want to buy any of my new “We Need More Gun Free Crime Zones” bumper stickers?
    Order now before I sell out. Pretty sure I can sell to both sides. Just like Hiram Maxim. šŸ™‚

  25. People wait and see whats what on Friday.
    Then make up your own minds.
    All this weekend and week.
    The news media has shown its usuall one sided emotional view.
    Slanted as usual, half truths and down right misinformation.

    Most NRA members and I am one of them.
    Want to hear “our” sides thoughts on the subject.
    I fully expect not word one to be mentioned regarding an assult weapons ban or mag capacity BS.
    Cooler heads and more realistic folks with some facts behind them as we see it.
    Will ask, and if it was me speaking. That we remove the so called “Gun Free” zones.
    We all know if there are no guns, no one in that particular area will shoot back. We observe the law right or wrong and leave our guns at home.
    The criminal knows this, the sick bastards know this.
    Thats the main reason these and only these sites get their attention.
    Realistically I know this wont happen.
    But Id like to see it at least proposed.
    I personally think that the left has exploited the emotional side more then enough as they always do.
    Lets have cooler heads prevail. Then we can begin to at least dicuss what can and should be done.
    We did it with pilots. It can be done with educators that wish to train and volunteer to be the first line of defense.
    Better yet.
    As we have here in Palm Beach County.
    A seperate Deputies unit of school police.
    The PBSO has a full time presence in every school here.
    It works and costs no more then it did before hand.

  26. Anyone who knows a fair amount about guns knows that restrictions on firearms will not help. I don’t think the NRA will contradict itself and screw the many gun owners forever. They issued a statement that garuntees the largest audience possible because if people here are afraid they are going to get screwed, grabbers are probably thinking that the NRA is throwing us under too. This means that they can take the time to explain how this is the result of stupid gun fee zones and lack of ability to defend ourselves.

    Now, if I’m wrong, then I’ll burn my NRA hat on Friday, along with my range memberships that require NRA memberships.

  27. NRA gave Mark Warner and Harry Reid “A’s”. GOA: F’s. This statement from the NRA does not sit well with me. Will this be their biggest act of treason against freedom yet?

  28. NRA is the “Dr. Breen” of gun-owner representatives.

    They do not exist to defend the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, let alone beat back the current unjust, illegal and unconstitutional restrictions. They exist to make Gun-Control possible. They are the “Buffer” that the enemy’s agenda passes through to make it more tolerable and prevent the “breaking point”. Incrementalism.

    After the last election I don’t think it can be any clearer: To heck with the NRA.. To heck with the GOP.. Let the traitors that suck all the oxygen out of the room finally perish.

    Also, time for a “blacklist” of all the groups, people and organizations that are joining the “Gun Owner’s Kristallnacht” (NFL, Discovery Channel, Dick’s Sporting Goods, investors, etc.).

    • Without actually explaining your point or proving what you say, you just sound like a gun control zealot trying to fear-monger people into dropping their memberships. Those organizations are the best defense gun owners have against despots like Feinstein and Obama.

  29. I’m not one for a Chicken Little mindset, but this in my opinion is nothing less than a war on guns that has been mounting since ’08 and with groups like the NRA going dark and issuing vague statements it’s really just all the more reason for the anti-2a people or those that were on the fence to get on board with anti-2a agenda that is, sadly, built upon the backs of the children slain in CT.

  31. Back in ’93 when the first AWB was on the floor – I believe the NRA didn’t want to fight it as they were afraid that if the 2A went to the Supreme Court, they may have cut it into shreds. And the same might be true this time too. Especially with Roberts swinging along with Obama Care, who knows what would happen. Grandfathering will be allowed so be glad for that. We’ll just have to wait for another Republican President (a real Repub, not Romney) to either remove the ban or like Bush 2, let it expire. Be glad we’re left with more then revolvers/lever actions (although it sounds like we’re close to that) We’ve lived thru one AWB, we’ll make it thru another. Our grandfathers and fathers made it thru WWII with only 8 rounds in their Garands. We’ll make it with 10. (I know, capacity limits do nothing, their just feel good laws to non-gun folk)

    • Lawrence, it sounds to me like you’ve skipped all the way to the fifth stage of grief, bud. In case you’re unaware, that’s “acceptance,” and it follows denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. I think you might want to back up to step one, at least until you know what you’re dealing with, because it’s all conjecture at this point.

      My only other point… “…or like Bush 2, let it expire.” Things only expire if they have a sunset clause built in, and there’s no evidence that there would be one this time.

      • Hehehe… Yes Matt, I guess it sounds like I have! I guess I’ll at least back up to Bargaining. But it stems from Obama being elected again for a 2nd term. Disbelief. Shock. And with him not having to run again I fear…. There is the key word, fear…. I fear he’s just going to run like a freight train and continue to rearrange this country for the worst. I know DiFi was already working on another AWB before Sandy Hook, this just brings it into the spotlight and gives people meaningful justification for the AWB. And when I say people, Im referring to the congress. I just don’t know how much they will fight against the president. We hold a majority in the congress, but that doesn’t mean diddley-squat if they do not, cannot, will not, fight for us. I just don’t have a lot of faith in them. I probably should, but I don’t.

  33. For all the knee-jerk reactions above, just think about this: No major organization will please all members all the time, however, THINK–where would gun ownership be today WITHOUT the NRA? Talk about throwing somebody under the bus! I will continue to support the NRA simply because it is the only EFFECTIVE player out there. May not agree with all policies, but when the trenches, even sombody I dislike who can shoot straight is WELCOME !!

  34. Adam Lanza, Mother Killer, was a Psychiatrist Unconscious Mind Programming Victim
    Google it, read it, understand it, you will get it.
    Hard facts take years to believe, but worth it.

  36. I grew up with guns, for target shooting and hunting. I’m not anti-gun, but this is all so much crap. Guns do not belong on our streets, in our towns, in our schools or work places. Sure, fire at a range, or go hunting; but the everyday carrying of personal firearms in public places just is not appropariate in a civilised society. And the NRA is just a mouthpiece for the industry trying to sell more guns. Get real, people. Guns off the street. And assault weapons? – just the military. If you want to play with that sort of firepower enlist and get off the streets.

    • “Iā€™m not anti-gun, but this is all so much crap. Guns do not belong on our streets, in our towns, in our schools or work places.”

      As the saying goes, when reading a statement that contains a “but,” ignore everything that precedes it.

      You may not be anti-your-guns, but you’re clearly anti-other-people’s-guns.

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